Dispensing device



Nov. 9, 1943. D. TOPJIAN 2,333,831

I DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1942 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 msrENsmG DEVICE Daniel T'opjian, Watertowm Mass assignor, by I I 'mesne assignments, to himself, as trustee Application October 15, 1942, Serial No. 462,199 17 Claims. (01. zeds9); l

This invention concerns dispensing apparatus and relates more particularly :to .means'for dis-r pensing matches, although in its. broader aspects it is contemplated to have other utilities}; Customarily, matches are sold either loose,-in cardboard or thinwood-veneer boxes containing a, substantial number of matches (said boxesbeing of a whollyutilitarian character and of unaesthetic appearance) or in packages containing;

relatively fewmatches, but which like the boxes make no pretension to artistry in form or, surper-like, so as to be burned solelyfor the pur pose of periuming the surroundings and' without face finish. Furthermore, both types of con tainer are usuallyof inflammable material such that if the matches are accidentally ignited, the entire container may beconsumed to the great damage to surrounding objects. v Moreover, whether the, container be a box or packet,,.-thev person desiring a match mustordinarily employ both hands in securing a matchfrom the closed container. v One object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container for matches which, if desired, may be of highly ornamental and aesthetic appearance; which may be made, if de sired; of a substantiallyfireproof or fire-resist; ant material such that if by chance the matches within it should become ignited it would protect its surroundings from fire, damage; and to provide a dispensing-receptacle fromfwhich individual matches may be withdrawn by the use'of one hand only. 7 j

' In my prior Patent No; 2,139,050 I have enu merated certain of the advantages to'be gained by impregnating, coating or otherwise treating a match so that'when burned it emits a pleasing fragrance rather than the disagreeable odor'ordie narily resulting from the burning or smoldering of the match stick and thechemicals'forming its tip. As described in said patent, such a desirable'fragrance was'conditional upon thetreatment of the-match-during manufacture. However, his not always possible to obtainmatches treated in accordancewiththe: disclosure of my prior patent, and a furtherobiectofthe present invention is to provide meanswhereby an article to be dispensed, for instance a match, may be; come automatically perfumed while within the dispensing container awaiting dispensing, thereby making it possibleto obtain the 'benefi'tsof the perfumed articlejthough thearticlewhen placed in the dispensing container may'be of the common, that'ls to sayfunperfumed type.

A. iurther object of the invention is'to' provide a dispensing container comprising" a {holdin means in which" a matchmay be, arranged,-ta-

a Other ignates a dispensing receptacle danger that the burning match will cause damage either from its flame or from its incandescent and further objects-and advantages of the-invention will be.pointed out hereinafter inthe following more detailed description, and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevationof one desirable embodiment. of dispensing receptacle or container in accordance with the present invention;

Fig-21s a verticaldiametrical section through the container of Fig.1; l i Fig. 3 is a horizontal section; sub'stantiallyon the 1ine.3.3 oi Fig.2; .1

,Figml is a plan view of aremovable holder applicable to the, .container of Fig.1, ,for holding matcheswhile, being burned; 1

Fig.q5 is a diametrical section of .the. holder of Fig.,4;and' 6 is a, diagrammatic side velevation show-. ingthe holder assembled. with the receptacle or; container of Fig, 1. 1, p y

Beferringto thedrawing, thenumeral I iles- 7 particularly de. signed for dispensing matches. receptacle comprises a base including an; annular horizon tal flange portion 2 designed to rest upon a suitable support, for example the, top of a table,,and the upwardly directed hollow circular boss 3 r having the horizontal top wall 4. Thisboss definesa chamber 5 vvitl iin the base.

The top wall I of the boss is furnished with a central bearing opening tor a short vertical shaft 1 to whose lower endis secured a ratchet wheel or. disk 8.. A spring pawl or detent 9 engages, the teeth of this ratchet disk andthus prevents nee rotation of the shaft although allowing the shaft to be turned step by step in'the proper direction by theapplicationof suflicientforce. To them).- per end of the shaft, just above thetop wall 4 of the boss, is secured "a spool support l 0, here shown as a disk provided with one or more upstanding eccentrically located projecting" connecting pins, orlugslli' The dispensing receptacle;'as here illustrated, also comprises a substantially cylindrical shell 12 which maybe of sheet metal, moldedplastic, or thflike,=but which preferably, like the rest of the receptacle, is 1 of a 'non-i'nfiammable or at leastfire-resistant material. The lower end of this shell- I2 is telescoped-over the boss 3 and is permanently fixedto thelb'a'se in any desired manner, for .eirample by rivets or welding; A

.so-that the holder may es i ed dcwncllc he Projecting down from the center of the cover is l a boss l6 to whose lower end is secured a drive element l1, here shown as a disk having one or more downwardly directed eccentrically located driving pins or lugs I8.

The receptacle as thus described is designed to receive a spool which supports a roll R 6 articles here being shown as the .matches M. These matches are arranged in series and are connected only at points adjacent the lower ends" of h ma ch. tic s the latt r ein o eealnple.

. .9?? nected articles which are to be dispensed, such o a e o ardhcard su h a cQmmQr YuseQ n ma in mat hes. wh ch are s d n acke -i m, The. spool on whic e roll R f @1 Q .1

mounted, is here illustrated as comprising a tuhu; 2

lar barrel l9, having heads 20 nd 2i rigidly s cured to its lower an upper ends respectivel The head 2i]. is here shown as imp rfora abut the. upper. end 2|, is annular so asto provide access to.- theinterior. of the barreL- As here shown,- this barrel is made of rigid -materialprovided with perforations. 22 for example, perforated metal, but; it is contemplatedthat thebarrel may. be. made of any desired construction, solong as it is pervious. to the radial passage of volatile substances.

Preferably, an annular shelf. 23:. is: mounted on' the barrel lil such shelf being adjustable axially of thebarrel if desired and constituting a support. for the lower end of theroll R. oi matches.

The shell I2 is provided with an elorigate'edispensing slot 24, one margin of which, as- -shownfat- 25 in'Fig. '3, is bent inwardly toform'a deflector or guide operative to engage the inner face of theouter convolution of the row of matches and -te guide the endmost match outwardly through the slot.' The op'posite edge Z-Gof-thisslot may if desired be sharp or'provided'wi-th small serrations and'is designed to assistin tearing off theeiid-I most match when the latter has been projected outwardly through the slot; 1' Y Witlnr'ithehollow barrely l'9 of the spool is" a, body 2-Tof absorbent material, I batting or paper'fibre', and this body bf material" contains'a volatile substance of such a ch acter t at. a it g d al y e a e it mlthrough the pervious material of the barrel "I S and 59 he u ou 'q l' R f nat s thc y imparting to the matches a pleasing fragrance r at least the capability of emitting a pleasingodor when they are burned. Thus, although theribbon of matches forming the roll B may initially be, of or i r type; h ll of ma c e au ll ca'l acquires a pleasing fragrance when arranged within the dispensing receptacle so, that'wh removed and burned the matches have ti ll the same ch racteristics, as thosedes 1P6 qcv rfia jdiia ect. a

T as i t n us n mat hes s. ret rned-e it: t e. tapers the. re eptacle ay. be pr v d th theholden Z-.&.. iesla e ll hh0l il ll ffi fif ably-b n o s e metal; o ether. on-in e mablc material: nd-' av-inea. cen ral. nswe .knobili-and re tunon th cotter. 1. either for example cotton 1 spool will turn through a distance j ust in such matches will While so burning the matches are properly supported and any ashes which may fall are collected in the trough 3 I and there isnodanger of damage to the surroundings bysuch use of the matches. Furthermore since the entire receptacle forms a substantially fireproof housing there is little danger of damage to. surroundings even though through an accident the matches forming the roll R should l become. ignited. Sincethe receptacle has. every firm base-and since. the matchesz-arepresented. one-by one at. the slot. 2,4,.theuser may ream tear. ofia match bythe use of oneshand onhn.v Spools with the rolls of matches: mounted there. on may be supplied as. refills :f-or thedispensing receptacle, or on the other hand,-thespoo1 mayrhe; regarded as a permanent part oftheireceptacle andtheri-bbons of connecting matches may he wound upon the'bar-rel of the spool by the preparatory to dispensing. natural resiliai enc'y of the: ribbon of matches tends to cause the roll'toexpand in-diameter and thusthe convolutiflh tends to engage'theinner surfaceof thes'hell t2. Sincethe drive pins W enter ope/m ings in the upper head i kof the s'pool whizle 'thel openings in the lower head 2i) receive the connecting hills I I projecting up fromdisk 'lflythero'ta-.:

tion'of the kneels-turns the'spool'agai-nstthe oDPOsition of detent 9. When the knob we; turned the, endnnost match; is caused to approach m-t a e 1 ref rence-$1 M 2 i u d s outwardly byrneinber '25 o a 'posi tion such-that; it'ma a lye erased- 5. 2 9 1 e e e ribbon off connected matches; The remaining: s are co. fin w hinths r cea tl funti f aay nc dan ther he. .."l s 1 3 i th tc h n: th f a chet w ee 1 asqfseaq at h u eufiis eet t cl lirena s n match. each ime that t atent .1 9

t. es e t a ature), he Q b'ein P111. fin lly mp eyedto. QQYgQlLWill. e er ta n ng '...ce '.e aaea p 399.15 Wil i1:

lt hfle ma ches, m M s Wh le the rt1. t c n l i fll-fiql sea base andithepattsasuazf eter anes le has been. referred: to: asfverticalii and WMIQ HR terms f-upperl and ."lower have.;been employed; it' is m beu merely for convenience-in descr ipti' mic 16. he mass; a j eir'e 9" e earde l' as 1 d emcl nx uj samb ejit sm t tentimiis. ot. ne e genesis? when setin the l sockets 30 it m. ee h; to. t e;

nderstoodi that such words." are 7 used wan-researr cisaemecd me th t me.

"a drive element engaging equivalents falling within" the term or: the rip: pended claims." I l. Iclaim:- 1 y j- '1. A dispensing reoeptaclecomprising an=elon gate-hollow-corefor the reception of a roll'of connected articles to be dispensed, said core being pervious, a body 'of absorbent materialwithin the core designed to hold a volatile -odoriferous substance capable of escaping through-the pervious core and of imparting its characteristic odor to the roll of connected articles mounted on the core,-means normally closing theends of thecore, means supporting the core for rotation thereby to permit the roll of attached'articlesgradually to be-unwound from'the coreas individual articles aredispensed, and means operative to fae cilitate the detachment of said articles as they are unwound from the roll. r l

l 2. In combination in a dispensing receptacle, a spool having a hollow elongate barrel and a head at each end of the barrel, the barrelh'aving openings in" its wall, one of the heads having acentral aperture giving access to the interior of the barrel, a body "of absorbent material; :within the barrel operative tohold a volatile odoriferous substance in such relation to a roll of connected dispensable articles wound n the barrel as to impart the characteristic odor of said-fivolatile substance to said articles, a rotary support for the spool, means opposing-free rotation of the, spool,

and a handle device whereby the spool, together with the support, may berotated thereby to 'dispense the articles constituting the roll.

3; In combination in'a dispensing receptacle, a

spool having a hollow elongate barrel and a head at each end of the barrel, the-barrel having open ings in its wall, one of the heads having a central aperture giving access to the interior of the barrel, a body of absorbent material within the barrel operative to hold a volatile odoriferous sub stance in such relation to a roll of connected dispensabl articles wound on the barrel as to impart the characteristic odor'of said volatile substance to said articles, a rotary support forthe spool,' pawl and ratchet means operative to prevent free rotation of the support, the support having means operable by engagement with the spool head to prevent rotation of the spool relative to the spool, and means whereby the spool may be turned thereby to facilitate the dispensing of the articles one-by-one from the roll.

4. In combination in a dispensing receptacle, a spool having ahollow elongate barrel and a head at each end of the barrel, the barrel having openings inits wall, one of the heads havinga central aperture giving access to the interiorof the barrel, a body of absorbent material within) the barrel operative to hold a volatile odoriferous substance in such relation to a roll of connected dispensable articles wound on the barrel as to impart the characteristic odor of said volatile substance to said articles, a rotatable support for the spool, said support, having an eccentrically located projection designed to enter an aperture in the spool head thereby to prevent relative rotation of the spool and support, detent means operative to prevent free rotation of the spool, the opposite head of the spool, and means whereby the drive element may be turned.

5. In combination in a dispensing receptacle, a

, eccentrically located openings therein, a rotatable Tel constituting a support for the lower end of a rel,- a body ofabsorbent material within the bar rel pperative to hold a volatile odoriferous substance-in such relation-to a roll of I connected dispensablearticles wound ,on the barrel as to 1m part the characteristic odor of'saicl volatile sub-J stance-tosaid articles, the spool heads havi'ng support for the spool, said support havingprojections engaging the openings in one head of the spool thereby tosprevent relative rotation :of'the spool and support, a drive element having proe jections which engage: the openings in'the other head 'of the spoolpand a. handle whereby. the drive element maybe rotated thereby to. turnthe spool andsupport; V

1 ,6..In combination in a dispensing receptacle, a"base,'.a'cylindrica1 shell having therein an elongate dispensing slot parallel to the axis of the spool, azrotatablesupport coaxial with the shell, detent means operative to prevent free rotation of the support, a spool having a hollow barrel and a head at each end of the barrel, the barrel having perforations in its wall and containing a body of odor-emitting material, the lower head of the spool resting upon the support, means operativeto preventrelative rotation of the spool and support, a removable cover for the shell, said cover being rotatable relatively to the shell and havinglan external "handle whereby it may be turned, and adrive element connected to the coversand within the upper part of the shell, the drive element having means engaging the upper headof the spool thereby to prevent relative rotation of the spool and driveelement.

---:7.:1In combination in adispensing receptacle, a hollow basehaving a bearing for a vertical shaft, detent means within the base operative to prevent free rrotation of the shaft, a supporting diskgfixed to, the shaft above the base, said disk having upwardly projecting eccentrically located lugs," acylindrical shellsecured at one end to the base in coaxial relation to the shaft, a removable rotatable cover engaging the upper end of the shell, means for turningsaid cover, a drive disk secured to the cover, saiddisk being normally positioned within the upper part of the shell and having eccentrically located downwardly directed 1ugs,ia spool having a barreLand a head at each end-of "the barrel, one head of the spool resting onthe rotatable supportand having holes for the receptionof the upwardly projecting lugs, the other'spool headwhaving holes with which the lugs of the drive-disk engage, a. shell having an elongate dispensing slot parallel to the axis of the shaft, and an annular shelf fixed to the bar roll' ofconn'ected articles to be dispensed, the slot in the shell-being so located andof such dimensions as to constitute a guide for the artispool having a hollow elongate barrel anda head at each end of the barrel, the barrel having openings in its wall, one of the heads having a central aperture giving access to the interior of the barcles as'they emerge from the receptacle.

8. In combination in a dispensing receptacle, a base comprising a circular hollow upstanding boss havingv a central bearing opening, a shaft ar-- ranged to turn in said opening, a ratchet wheel secured to the lower end of the shaft within the base, a spring detent within the base engaging the ratchet and operative to prevent free rota.-

tion of the shaft,a supporting disk fixed to the 3 upper end of the shaft, a cylindrical shell having its lower end telescoped over the boss and fixed to the base, a removable cover rotatably engaging the upper end of the shell, said cover having an external handle by which it may be turned, a drive disk fixed to the inner side of the cover, a spool having a barrel and a head at each end o! the barrel, one head resting on thesupporting;

disk. and the other head being'adjacent the drive disk,lmteans operative toprevent-relative rotation 'ofthe lower spoolchead and, the'sup-= portingdisk, and-means'operative toprevent relative rotation of the upper spool head and'drive disk, the shell having an elongate dispensing slot parallel to the axis of'the shaft, the material of the shell at one edge'of said slot beingso deflected:

as to constitute *guide .means for articles to be dispensed. V r l 9.-.A match-dispensing receptaclecomprising' a coredesigned to receive a roll. of attached :but.

rotatable support for-the spool, said support hawing an eccentrically located projection designed to enter an aperture in: the spool head thereby toprevent' relative rotation of the spool and-support, detent means operative (to prevent free rotation of the support, a drive elementengaging the opposite head of the spool,-:and means vavhereby the drive element m-ay be turned. l

7 1-1. In combination in a match-dispensing'receptacle, a spool having an elongate barrel and a 'headat each end of "the barrel, thespool being designed to receive a roll-of connected matches, the spool heads havingeccentrioally located open;- ings therein, .a rotatable support for the spool, saidsupport having a projection-engaging an opening in one head of the spool thereby to prevent relative rotation of the spool and i-support a' drive element having aprojeotion which engages an opening in the other head of the spool, and Y a handle whereby the drive-element may 'be rotated thereby toturn the spool and support. .12. 'In combination in-l-a match-dispensing receptacles, base,'a cylindricalshell having therein an elongate dispensing slot parallel to the axis of the spool, a rotatable support co-axial with the shell, detent means'to,;prevent free rotation of the support, a spool having a barrel and a :head at each-end of the barrel, the spool being designed to'receive arollofconnected matches, the lower head of the, spool resting on the support, means operative to prevent rela- .tive rotation of the spool and support, a remov able coverforthe shelL'said cover able relatively to the shell and having-an handle whereby it may be turned, and o clrl ve p element connected to the cover and-within the upper part-of the shell, the drive element hav-;, ing' meansengaging the upper head'of the spool,

thereby to preventrelative rotation of the spool,

anddriveelclnentr ,t e l3. A; match dispensing apparatus comprising,

a receptaolelrincluding a'.-base,:a side wall nude? cover; and a rotatable core within the receptacle; Y

designed to receive a strip ofattachedbut sepals table matches :wound to. forma ,rollhthe; core comprisingmeans operative to impart apleas-r ing odor tothe matchesconstituting saidrolL, and means for rotating the core thereby'to. line: wind the roll of matches.

14. A match dispensing apparatus comprising ativexto impart a pleasing fragrance to the; matchespconstituting the roll, and meansiion turning the core thereby to unwind the;roll ol{ matches. 1

v 15-. Amatch dispensing apparatus comprising a receptacl'e havingtherein a rigid rotatable cote] designed toreceive a roller attached but sepa rableimatohes the core beinglhollow and 1ot, perforated-materia1,.a mass ,of absorbent material within: the core containing a volatile odoriferous ,substancevoperative to impart a pleasing;

fragrance to thematches forming the roll, and, means operative to prevent accidental rotationa ofsthe'core.v t-w, -16.-;A:matchdispensingapparatus comprisinga receptacle, anelongate core within the rece'ptaclefor the reception oia strip of connected matches wound to form a roll, meanssupportmg; the-:corea-for rotation thereby, to permit the roll; ofi attachedumatches gradually tobe unwound from the..-.core as individual matches pensed, and means "operative to facilitate lthe;

detachmentof said matches as they are unwoundi from th8f l011.;" H a m 117-: In combination in a :match dispensing :mj-f ceptacle-a spool having ran elongate barrel anda head ateach-e'nd of the barrel, the spool beingz designed to holda strip of ;connected: matches wound .tozformna roll, a rotary support 'for the spool; means opposing Vfree rotation'of thejspook;

and a; handle device whereby the spool togethen withilts support maybe-rotated; therebyto; dis-- pense thematchesconstituting the ro11.-v

.: DANIEL- TOPJIAN. 

